“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” 1 John 4:15 If you confess with your lips… If your soul longs for God… If your heart knows it needs to … Continue reading
How free are you?
What moves you?
My dear mother shared this verse with me today: “But none of these things move me….” Acts 20:24 Paul goes on to explain his pristine focus on the mission God had entrusted to him. Earthly things didn’t move him. Including … Continue reading
Questioning God
Who am I to question Almighty God? What gives me that right? His ways are above mine. He holds our future in His capable strong hands. Our job is to trust Him with faith like a child. Oh we can … Continue reading
Peace or Panic
Choose you this day whom you will serve. Joshua 24:15 Who is your master? Who are you serving? God? The flesh? Christians are quick to say God, of course. We do lots of business in God’s name. And most of … Continue reading
Focusing on Jesus
And Peter answered Him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he … Continue reading
Speech
Our tongues produce life or death. Mere words are capable of bringing joy or sorrow, pain or comfort. Words are quick to come, hard to erase. They are spoken on a careless whim or calculated with extreme precision. They can … Continue reading
Right Where You Are
He has you where He wants you. Jesus. He places us in spots where He can use us. Do you ever wonder why He chose this spot? I do. Sometimes things don’t make sense. Logically. But that’s not our job. … Continue reading
Your Precious Little Heart
Let not your hearts be troubled…. John 14:1a I find this funny. Funny like haha, yea, right. Oh wait – is God serious? How can I possibly ignore life’s troubles? Well, God didn’t say ignore life’s troubles… Just don’t let … Continue reading
Personally Yours
Make a list of your blessings. I know you can, even if you are in the deep dark pit. Physically write them down. You’ll need to refer to the list often until you can remember them on your own. If … Continue reading
Sprinkles on ice cream
Why not? Have sprinkles on your ice cream? It’s way funner. Ok, more fun. Or how about using your grandmother’s dishes every day instead of only on special occasions? Life is meant to be lived. Not watched from the sidelines. … Continue reading
Audience of One
Pulled the chicken out of the oven and assembled the many dinner plates. Peas, macaroni & cheese, and chicken on my blue dishes looked appetizing. As I said out loud to thin air, “Good job, Amy”, I knew at that … Continue reading
Rising from the dead
Not literally. I’m talking about spirit crushed, gut wrenching grief. When you are overcome with grief from the very depths of your soul and you cry until you cannot cry anymore. That kind of dead. Times like those are when … Continue reading
Taking offense
As a general rule, are people out to get you? Overall, are your loved ones decent and loving? I’m talking about deep into the heart. Come on- keep looking. Bottom line? People love you. You know I’m right. They’re not … Continue reading
Sovereign
God is sovereign. Over all things. The definition of sovereign includes these words: supreme permanent authority. Well, that about covers it, doesn’t it? God has supreme (total) authority (power) and it’s never going away (permanent, here forever). He holds the … Continue reading
Stuck at the cross
(This guest post is my sweet daughter Linnea’s senior legacy paper) When thinking about how to sum up what I’ve learned in high school, I struggle to find the words. There’s so much I’ve learned. Really, there are like ten … Continue reading
God is bigger
Way bigger. Than everything, big or small. Life changing things. Little annoyances. He’s bigger than the problems of today. What do I mean? God can do anything. And He will. He’s promised to protect you. To carry your burdens. To … Continue reading
Need new glasses?
How do you choose to view things in your life? Ugly things Beautiful things Uncomfortable situations If you look at a challenge through worldly eyes, fear will be in control. You’ll worry Fret Obsess However, if you look at that … Continue reading
Choosing misery
I know someone. So full of bitterness, anger, and self pity, she can hardly function. Slightest incident can set off a torrent of panic. Fear of losing control. Of her world. If life doesn’t go her way, she pouts. Complains. … Continue reading
Stepping into life
Are you ever amazed at the ugliness inside? At the emotions that pour out of your heart from nowhere? Where on earth did that come from? Is that me? Am I really that selfish? Am I really that insecure? Jealous? … Continue reading
Remind me, God
Look at all I have done for you. Look back at where you have been. Compare that to now. How faithful have I been? Completely. Down to the tiniest detail. Remember. Simply remember and be reminded. I am still … Continue reading
Anger? You betcha!
Is it OK to be angry? Yes. Is it OK to be upset? Yep. Is it OK to be full of anger? No. Is it OK for anger to dictate my emotions? Heck no. Is it OK to dwell in … Continue reading
You
How does God see you? As His beloved. His miracle. His greatest creation. As someone worth dying for. Your thoughts are precious to Him. Your tears are held in His hands. Your joys bring Him smiles. And your praise gives … Continue reading
Confusion
Does God ever confuse you? Leave you baffled? Speechless? Or do you make sense of everything He allows? I don’t. I can’t possibly make sense of some things. So I’m left in a confused state. Left until I decide to … Continue reading
Blessings
Smiling eyes A helping hand An opened door from a stranger A handsome lunch date Money for groceries A giant beautiful Christmas tree My warm cozy house Baking cookies from my grandmother’s handwritten recipes Music that fills the air The … Continue reading
Obvious
It should be obvious I am Your child, Lord. That I spend time with You. Sweet Jesus, please give me Your eyes. I want to see things through Your lens. Your filter. I want to see things as they really … Continue reading
Only Human
Sometimes I feel like a hypocrite. Fraud. Someone who writes well and doesn’t listen to what she writes. Well, I’m only human. Not perfect. Not even close. Life is real. Emotions are real. Expectations are real. We are forced every … Continue reading
Seeing God
Ever see God work? Witness His marvelous plan unfold? Take a breath and look around. He’s working in your children’s hearts. He’s organizing your thoughts. He’s ordering your steps. He’s revealing nuggets of wisdom just when you need them. He’s … Continue reading
Seeing Love
If love stared you in the face, would you see it? How bout if it looked a different way? Can you see love in the way it arrives at your doorstep? If it’s dressed unexpectedly, can you even see it … Continue reading
It Starts With You
Everything. How will you respond to what life throws at you? When stress stares you in the face, how will you behave? Panicky? Unable to breathe? Grumpy pants? If that’s your response, your body will respond in fear. You will … Continue reading
Contentment
Waiting on God. Trusting the process. Surrendering – and finding peace along the way. That’s contentment. Are you content? Peaceful? Or are you filled with anxious thoughts? What if nothing ever changed in your life ever again. What then. Would … Continue reading
Don’t You Dare Stumble!
Ever feel like you are trying too hard? Like you are holding everyone and everything up by yourself? It’s precarious. One small bump and everything can come crashing down. Falling into pieces. One word. Don’t. Let God carry everything. He … Continue reading
Redemption
Always knew God would redeem us. He promised He would. And He always keeps His word. But standing back and watching His plan unfold is different. It’s breathtaking. Leaves me speechless. And I am part of His plan. So is … Continue reading
Worth It
My beloved recently told me I’m worth fighting for. Wow. Those are powerful words. Comforting. I picture peace and safety. Why? Protection. Value. Then I began to think about God and how He also thinks we are worth fighting for. … Continue reading
Gently Leading
How does a shepherd lead his sheep? Building trust and gently leading them home. Protecting their every step along the way. The shepherd’s physical presence leads by example. How are you leading your family? Gently leading by example? Loving them … Continue reading
Unseen Footprints
Psalm 77:19-20 Your way way was through the sea, Your path through the great waters; Yet your footprints were unseen. You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. God guides us by His hand … Continue reading
Waiting
Ugh. I really don’t like even the word. Who does? Wait. Our children detest the word. When they ask us something and we say ‘wait’, their faces usually fall, because they just know. Society buys cars with loans, we buy … Continue reading
Selfishness
I stood face to face with selfishness last week. Utter full-blown rebellion, actually. It was ugly. Super ugly. It screamed in my face, demanding attention. Demanding I cater to the selfish whims. And when I refused, it was not pretty. … Continue reading
Thankfulness
It’s easy to thank God when times are good. When life is smooth, it’s easy to raise our hands to heaven, thanking the One who created all things. How ’bout when life turns ugly? When your life hits a speed … Continue reading
Mothering
In the quiet of my heart, God gently reminds me of how His fingerprints are all over my life. I look around and see Him. From when I was a little girl dreaming of my future, I wanted the life … Continue reading
Yes, God, I’m listening
You’re still holding the reins. Your life. You still want control. I do? Yes. How do you know? Easy. Every time you don’t see your life headed in the direction you want, you worry. When an issue pops … Continue reading
